All right, I'm going to call >> progress finance committee meeting to um to order first and then go through a couple things and then you can open the select board meeting. Our agendas are a little a little different. Uh so in accordance with the requirements the
open meeting law please be advised this meeting is being recorded and broadcast over the Lunberg public access channel and on Facebook live on the public access Facebook page. Uh the zoom link for the joint meeting is best um received through the um select board
agenda. Uh we put two different zoom links in by mistake. And with that um let's do the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Who's running Zoom? Anyone? >> I I have it open. >> I
>> Okay. Um the first thing just by way of announcements is last week maybe uh we had the finance committee appointment committee. Uh Jay and I were reappointed and I'd like to welcome back Peter Bidmore who's back on the select board.
U I mean the finance committee. >> Uh he's on the finance committee. Um so Peter was on a few years ago went to the school committee and um now he's back. Uh so he's very welcome addition. Uh is there any public comment from I guess
anyone? Anyone online? >> There's one member of the public online but they don't have it anyways. >> All right. Um, and then with that, I guess we will go into our current business that overlaps both boards, which is year-end
transfers. So, you can call your meeting to order. >> So, I'll call those >> I'll call the select board meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. >> J's coming in. >> I think J is coming in. If it's J.
>> I hit admit. Nothing's Oh, there >> it just says J. JS Samsung Galaxy 10. >> Okay. >> Jay Simeone, is that you? Yes, it is. It is. >> Okay.
>> All right. So, now we got to roll call. All right. It may be the longest part of the meeting. All right. Do we want to turn it over to Jen? >> Sure. So, um, you have before you several year-end transfers. Uh, year end transfers, for those that are not aware,
are authorized in the last two months of a fiscal year and the first 15 days of the next fiscal year. Um I had actually wanted to do these earlier um when I was seeing a lot of accounts and I was told by the finance director and this is why we waited because there's only four. So
um you have um four or three transfers rather or three shortages that we need to cover. One is a transfer of $10,000 for legal expenses in the legal line. Uh one is a transfer for $1,081.51
for the sealer of weights and measures. and then $7,000 for printing the town report. So the total that we are looking to cover is $18,81.51. And the transfer source that we have selected is the planning board director salary line. The position was vacant for
a substantial amount of the year. And so there's plenty of funds there. And I'm happy to answer any questions if folks have any about those lines. Otherwise, there's a suggested motion. >> I can read the motion if there's no questions. >> Questions?
>> I can read. So, I move that the finance committee and select board approve the FY 2026 year-end transfers pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 44 section 33B as presented in the transfer schedule dated July 11th, 2026. >> Actually, revise that to say July 13,
2026. >> I amend my motion to to say the transfer schedule dated July >> 13, 2026. Second. >> All right. >> I can take the select board vote since
we're all here. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, all those in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> oppose. None. Motion passes unanimously. >> All right. And then, uh, for us, roll call vote. Peter, >> yes. >> Mike, >> yes.
>> Anna's not here. Tanya, >> yes. >> Uh, Jay, >> I. >> Tom, >> I. >> And an I for myself. So they both pass. >> Thank you. >> All right. So that was it. Uh is there any other
public comment? And with that >> just make sure no hands online. >> Okay. With that I would entertain a motion to adjourn the finance committee at 706. >> All right. Uh roll call vote. Peter. Yes.
>> Mike. Hi. >> Tanya. Hi. >> Jay. Hi, >> Tom. >> Hi. >> And I for myself. >> Thank you all. >> Have a good night. >> All right.
So, before we get into the goals discussion, we do have one item that came in um that we'd like to get a vote on tonight, and that is um accepting a uh gift of $1,65
from Delos and Roy Civil Design Group to pay for the uh new beach house dedication sign. and they can't begin making the sign until we have approved uh acceptance of that gift.
Any questions about this? If not, uh I'll take a motion. >> I'll I'll make a motion to accept the gift of $1,65 from Dillis and Roy Civil Design Group for Beach House dedication sign. >> A second.
>> Okay. Um, no further discussion. All those in favor? >> I I opposed. None. Uh, motion passes unanimously. And I want to thank um Delis and Roy for their generous uh donation. Okay. So, I haven't looked to see our
goals should be dropped in the folder. >> She did drop she did drop a bin. >> Refresh. in the subfolder under July 14th for no I keep trying to rename that town manager and select board goals drafts.
>> I see. Okay. So I think the only goals that members have seen are the town manager's goals so far. So I thought maybe we could go around amongst us just hit like the high categories of the areas that we were looking to set goals
on before we dive deeper into the goals and try to align um cuz we'll we should align as a select board and then um work with the town manager to
coalign I guess is is the term. Um, how does that sound to folks? >> Okay. Um, so let's see. Glenn, yours are the first in here. Do you want to
>> Sure. So the, um, I did appreciate the goals and objectives from the department heads. I think that was an excellent starting point, a good uh, blueprint. Um specifically um additionally review municipal building design
committee charge scope and guidance from the select board adjust adapt update goal number two from 2026 uh community in alignment and responsiveness trying to build on that.
Um, I would like to see us draft a resolution of compliance to voterapproved law authorizing the state auditor Diana Daglio to perform an audit of the legislature at some point. Um, embrace acknowledge community uh affordability
concerns. Keep upcoming large capital expenses and liabilities on the dashboard and front of mind throughout uh the process throughout the year. uh continue advocating advocacy for additional funding from the state.
Strongly worded letters of the past have proven ineffective. Uh transparency and budget funding challenges challenges facing Lunberg. Talking points have been consistently limited to Proposition 2 and a half and
inflation as being the the core issues. We should include, you know, lack of funding from the state in that conversation. um embrace and explore dissenting opinions and uh build familiarity with the master plan and what I presume will
be some form of implementation committee. So I know those are kind of broad but like I really did appreciate the goals and objectives from the department heads. I think those are critical naturally coming from the subject matter experts and this is still
a new process for me to try to to work through but that's that's about what I came up with. Yeah, I think that's great. Um, I like the diversity. I think it's uh important for us to hit different uh different
areas. Uh, I definitely um had a little bit of the buildings in there as well in mind. Um, community, I think general, I think there's so much to deal with community and responsiveness and communication. So, I had a section in that too, just trying
to hit up areas where you had the same thing. Um, I didn't have a lot of state funding uh in there. And talking about the state, I do agree we should address that. I don't know how much work we can get done on that, but I do like the idea of making sure we continue to advocate
uh for Lunberg with state funding. And then I did have a a general um working with other committees and uh boards. So, kind of hits a little bit of the master plan. I didn't mention the master plan, but I like that in that kind of category
of working with other groups and committees. Let me open up mine. Um I did hit up um town manager goal, so I can skip that. I was trying to align everything kind of connecting town manager and select board
um both. So if you scroll down, if you're looking at mine, it's uh kind of towards the bottom of page to select board goals. uh more of a adopting a strategic plan for the town, more of like a 3 to 5year strategic plan. Um talking about financial stability,
kind of looking at a long-term picture, not just short-term um not only financially, but also for the buildings and also the schools. I'm thinking Turkey Hill like we also have to consider that in discussions too, not just um TCP, Ritter, Town Hall, uh
economic development. I kind of threw in this category too of strategic plan. Um, what kind of economic development can we produce? Try to get more income uh in the town. Housing. Uh, I know the
the the director just came in and mentioned housing. >> Um, so I kind of threw that in there, too. Um, public safety and then I know parks and wreck, that's always kind of a something that needs to be addressed, too. Um, especially with right next to
the the senior center, too. And then community events too. I think it's it's that's that's kind of all connected with the parks and wreck trying to incorporate and and support community events. Number two was increasing public engagement and transparency and that was kind of where I connected with Glenn's
um more public forums um maybe annual reports to to residents um more proactive just communication before any big decisions. But I think this is kind of a very broad category that we can kind of go in any direction. Um, three was promoting economic
development and diverse revenue. Again, trying to recruit more businesses to come and being a welcoming town for businesses, trying to get more businesses in uh for that income. Uh, improve maybe permitting processes or uh redevelopment opportunities uh that we
talked about the other meeting. Um, maybe zoning obstacles. I even thought even exploring solar panels, whether they're uh on the old town dump that Mr. Jeff had mentioned years ago, maybe it's uh building uh solar panels above parking areas that you we see in
different towns and in different school systems uh just to create more revenue. Uh fourth, I had strengthening relationships with other boards. So kind of a general overview. I think definitely school committee and finance committee that we've worked on in the past. I think we can continue to work on that. Those are really two important
committees. But also we can work with planning board to try to again increase more revenue in town. Uh maybe it's the capital planning to support those buildings. Uh maybe it's again the APDC and historical society when we were talking about at our last meeting as
well having some joint meetings, shared priorities and initiatives and again early budgeting discussions. So that was kind of the key areas. I know we can't do everything but I wanted to get it all down there and see what consensus we had. >> Okay. Thanks. Um
I had a lot of the same at the high level. Um, I'll tell you things that I always struggle with this even in my job of setting goals. I don't like to set goals that are
dependent on other people that it's just delegating something, creating work for someone else. I like goals where it's within my scope, my authority, my power to actually act on it and and achieve something. Um, now there are
goals where it takes, you know, a collaboration or whatnot. So, so mine, well, I have mine printed out. It's probably easier for me to read on the print out. Um, at a high level, I have a lot of the same things around outreach. Um,
some communication and things, but I called last year the year of the budget. this year. Um, I feel like it's operations and processes. I've been able to spend a lot of time
here. um a lot of time interacting more directly with staff, hearing their comments, seeing um timelines for things, things that
you think should are should be done quickly and just aren't because there's so much we are still I don't I don't think the public I'm saying this for the public's benefit as well as everyone here. I don't think people
realize. So, we have filled a number of positions, key positions in the last what year? Year and a half. >> Really? >> Going back to Carter. >> Really? In the last three years, >> three years. Yeah. Actually, Karen Barrett said three years since Essie. >> Going back that far. Finance director,
principal assessor, director of planning and land use, which is now the new title. Uh >> Bill Bernard is relatively new to the organization. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he was here when I started but >> and and as well as the staff below
department heads, especially in the finance department. >> We've had a lot of people um people have left for different reasons, but some of it quite a bit I feel like has been like retirement. Like people have been here
in Lunenburgg for a long time and things were running, you know, they were they had their way. they they were comfortable with it. It was things were done. Um it made sense to everyone that was here. And now that everyone we've gone through
this transition, we're still going through the transition. There's still things that left with people who were in their heads and weren't documented. There's, you know, learning. It made sense to I don't want to cast blame or anything on
anyone. It made sense to people when they were here and it worked and we're now seeing this huge turnover in terms of number of staff in terms of institutional knowledge that has left the building left the town and
I feel like and I've I've heard this um this is one of the reasons you know why I supported the assistant town manager too people you can't hit pause and stop things. Payroll happens what, every 2 weeks.
>> You can't just hit pause so you can, you know, catch up and get things worked out and then resume. The car keeps running down the road. So, it's really hard to, I think, clean up, uh, learn processes, train
while you're still trying to keep things moving along. And I'll tell you the staff is feeling it. They are definitely feeling it. Um I'll call out Karen Barrett again. The year end we had a split payroll. So payroll that
that spanned two fiscal years, right? Finishing one, starting another. It meant uh the sick bank leave went in progress, change in uh vacation and health insurance, opt out, changing plans, all of that at once. >> And pre-collective bargaining
agreements. >> Yeah, that was Yeah, >> that were >> that that had been going on all spring. >> That had to be implemented as part of that. >> Oh. Oh, part of the payroll. Yeah, that impacted the payroll, right? I can't think of anything else that could happen to impact. I mean, that's
like the per. So, that's just a recent example that I know Karen Barrett was working way more hours than than should be expected to get through that. And that's that's just a recent example, but we
so all of that to say that a lot of what I put some of it is really basic and addresses some core um activities. I'll give you one example is I have I have a goal here to catch up on minutes
and commit to stay compliant for the rest of this year. We shouldn't have to have a goal about minutes. That should just be a given. Yet here we are more than a year. We were 2 years behind on minutes. That's just that's just a really basic example. But
that's a great example though of that car rolling down the street, right? So we have a lot of minutes that are not done and we're trying to stay current on minutes. How we had the minute writers come in, do the catch up, but it's just
until we get this baseline. There are this is just one of many albatrosses >> that is around folks neck. Um I think if you saw the feedback from the department heads you can feel the procedural there are processes and procedural stresses it
they mentioned processes they mentioned onboarding training of new staff documentation um we heard from Steven Wallace when he presented his update what 53G was way behind like there were outstanding >> over a decade
>> yeah so and and he's disco he's coming in new and discovering it. Um, so I tried to see what as a select board we could do. One to to get our stuff in order around policies,
uh, some processes, how we could help volunteers on boarding. We, you know, it's not in our purview to to, you know, help onboard staff, but volunteers share the same. How do I, you know, how do I
schedule a meeting? Who do I send the agenda to? Stuff like that. So, when I go through these, that's kind of the background of where my head was at and why I chose the ones I chose. So, um, one around select board policies and procedures, which is pretty standard, I
think, for select board, you know, to to review. And some policies that have come up um this year are the flag policy um and our appointment policy we did last year but in to going through appointments this year there were some I think maybe um edits that got lost in
translation along the way when it finally got posted. So that that should be minor. Um and one carryover from last year was a special event policy um whether we do want to in fact uh review that. Um, another one that carried over from
last year was to create policy to establish timeline for review of town fee schedule. This came up when Carter was here. So, and that's something that, you know, again, I think it was Brian Gangris came before us and and the the building fees, inspection fees, and
whatnot hadn't been updated in like a decade and we were woefully below all of our comp. and that's not going to, you know, it's not going to solve our fiscal challenges, but hey, we should stay on top of that. Um, with
respect to operational processes, um, I mentioned, you know, creating some kind of onboarding documentation or little tip sheet manual for new members of boards, committees, and commissions. Um, and I just captured a few things that I thought of just off the top of my
head to include in there. You know, how to schedule a Zoom requirements around posting meeting agenda, guideline for minutes, maybe a template for minutes, um, calendar of annual tasks and link to resources like open meeting along conflict of interest topics.
Um, a carryover from last year was the uh the draft financial policies that I think existed when Heather was here. I think that's when it was first created, drafted. >> Um, just as Heather's term was
concluding, the draft came in from >> So that's that's been um kicking around for a little bit. Um, I'd also like to have a training session with town council um around open meeting law, conflict of interest, and ethics.
There is a recording on on YouTube. Um, and this is this was on last year's goals, too. The recording on YouTube is 2019. Adam thought he did another one since then. If he did, it wasn't recorded. I've used that. I actually sent that to my dad when he got on water commission.
Like, here's good. watch open meeting law section. Um I don't think a lot has changed but I think we have a lot of new members and I would like to have another um training session for that for for all members of uh boards and committees commissions.
Um and then I mentioned the minutes um I do have one you know around the staff and public outreach and engagement which I think both of you also had right. So I think the public info session we had on warrant articles prior to the annual town meeting was very well received by
the public. Um I got I I got a lot of positive feedback from people who came. Um I would like to do that again for for articles um prior to the special as well as the annual town meeting. Um that of course ties into town managers goals too and we will be dependent on staff for
that um as they support or uh um submit articles. I think we can take advantage of pack to make uhformational videos about town meeting articles as well. Carter did that once um before annual I think he
did it with Caesar. >> Um nothing long just a short thing. I think that would be a good resource. Um I think and this this will get to and I'm not these aren't in priorities. These were seriously stream of consciousness order. So um don't read
into the order here. I municipal buildings I think we all have that on there. Um you've been on the municipal building committee for a while. >> It's uh fisher cut bait time in my opinion and I think others agree. Um
and I think one step towards that is oh so this is getting to I broke it out separately. One for select board members to tour municipal buildings where our staff is working. So buildings in use town hall Ritter I don't know public safety building DPW to see the working
conditions right firsthand to see you know town clerk's office. Um, I broke out the Brooks House and TCP separate. Um, that's in the the next section. Um, but I think also
seeing firsthand how people work. I was sitting here the one day and Kathy here it comes up in the lift. Um I don't I think to use the the printer I don't know if she had something in her hand but um you can imagine if if you're having a job interview with a candidate
here and someone comes up there's you don't know someone's coming up in the lift and they just walk out. It's really weird until you experience it firsthand. Um I think having that tour would be would be valuable. That's challenging if we want to do it during the day because
it's okay for me now. Um, Glenn's also retired. I don't know who the two new members will be, but you'll you'll be going back to teaching during the day. So, >> yeah, it would have to be like in the summer. So, >> yeah. So, we'll have to, you know, work around something. But, another idea I
had um and you guys tell me what you think about this, but you know how the the police and fire chiefs have coffee with the chiefs once a month? I think I was thinking that we could do that. Um, couldn't it be more than two select board members? obviously because I we
wouldn't want a quorum. Um again, you know, whether that's something like a monthly cadence, I don't think it would be more than that, but I would imagine having it maybe during the day to c catch staff like during their lunch hour if we were at the could be here, could
be at the library, could be at the adult activity center. Um, and then maybe have another time in the early evening to catch more, you know, people who aren't in town during the day, more of the public who work. Maybe we could even um see if Smoke Stack would let us, you
know, just sit there for now, like kind of open office hours um just to make ourselves more available. if people are hesitant to come and do public comment, you know, they're more comfortable just, you know, like they run into you at Hannerford or something and might tell
you something. Um, or if they're not, you know, online and don't email a lot and tone and email can be, you know, not so easy sometimes and and can actually create some some misunderstandings. So, anyway, that was something I I wanted to
propose and get your feedback. Um and then anything that was discussed during during these things would then come back to the full board and you know if there were any actions to be taken or something uh we could easily do that. All right the other municipal buildings that I think are really fisher cup bait
time are Brooks House and TCP. Um last year's goal we had to uh evaluate the charge and composition of municipal building design committee. Um, so I carry that over, but I think with what
happened in TCP over the winter with the flood and learning that we did not save money by, you know, decommissioning that back uh part of the building and it's it's uh I think it was $120,000 roughly was
Chris Ruth's estimate to maintain that building for a year. The cost. Yeah. Um, and we've made the decision to vacate the building and um, it will not be heated this year. I think that has
really made a decision. I I feel like we're at a fork in the road, right, when it comes to TCP um, of deciding demolition or renovation because the next step is very different
between those two, right? So if if the decision were to demolish um we could we could plan the pestous abatement and I I have a lot of question Chris Ruth is going to have to like I have a lot of questions for him around
this because I don't know if you're doing asbestous abatement knowing you're going to demolish the whole building versus you're going to renovate and try to save parts is that a different cost because you have to be more careful you know I I don't No things things like
that. Um so if the decision was made to demolish we could Chris Ruth could start the plan around asbestous abatement and we could start planning whether that's capital or whatever it is. If the decision was to renovate,
save at least part of the building. Um, I think this is Chris Ruth's opinion, I believe, as well, the whole roof would have to be replaced now because if you wait, it's going to cause more damage
and the renovation's going to become more expensive. >> Let me clarify just for the whole roof. the whole roof being the entirety of the roof on what would be the remaining structure. So not on this portion that was decommissioned but the entirety of the remaining
>> where Shapiro was where Pack was that >> the gym the food pantry. >> So that is I mean I think his estimate was around a million for that. So, we need to either get a roof on this building soon soon if we're going to save what's
under it or we can we can decide that we're not going to get a roof on the building and that's that's okay. But that timeline to decide that I I hope that we have until annual town meeting if that's the decision that the
board wants to go. I hope that you and and that would probably be it for capital or an inside borrowing for that kind of jingle, but it's a substantial amount of money. So, not to make decisions now, but it's just it's got to happen one way or the other soon. >> And again, we can't make well, we could,
but we don't make decisions now. But I do think that that speaks to the the comments made by Mr. Scullenbrini of the municipal building design committee kind of taking over the charge of all buildings and um you know weighing in on that very issue because I know it's it's
concerning because I going back a year or so ago I remember listening to the conversations and coming to the conclusion like oh yeah that building's got to come down in my head and then next thing I know we're leasing out spa you know space to Shapiro so I'm like oh wait so how bad is it? So, I think we
really do need the municipal building design committee to weigh in. >> I think you really need a tour first and then I think it might become very apparent. >> Yeah, I broke out the tours from the active buildings to the >> inactive to Brooks House in TC. I got to
see >> what day was that? Last Wednesday, I got impromptu uh Don from facilities was able to uh take me through TCP and Brook's house. That's the first time I've seen the gym. I've seen the food pantry, you know, and
but I went through the decommission part. I saw the boilers. I went through the Brooks house. Um, and I can look, but you know, it needs work, you know. I mean, um, but there there are some ideas I
have around the Brooks and things, but obviously we need the subject matter experts like our facilities director for sure. Um, who actually Um, town manager shared Chris Ruth prepared some talking points around TCP in late April in preparation for the
annual town meeting in case questions came up. Could you email this around to the board cuz >> this was end of April and it's pretty eye opening how he talks about every system and the issues. Um, some estimated costs, some like we have no
idea what this would cost. uh things like if this breaks, we can't fix it. It it's a total replacement. I think this is um it's fairly recent, end of April, but I think that would be um helpful for everyone else to see as well.
>> I always think of goals as what you think you're going to be doing this year. And I think I think we all can agree that TCP has to be addressed this year. I think we put it in as a goal and we collect all that information. We we talk to the experts. We talk to the different committees, get their
feedback, but then we take we gather all that information, make a report, make a a community uhformational packet that we can share with the community, get that information out there so the community is aware so that nobody's surprised when this information
comes out at one of our town meetings. I just want to comment though when you're talking about a process that you just described, I'm cons very concerned about the timeline because the process that you just described doesn't get us through C. So capital planning starts in the fall.
>> So we need to if we're going for a capital project for for May, we need to be having Chris relatively soon like September, October, starting to get real cost estimates to submit that capital project. Otherwise, so if if you're going to
spend a lot of time having a robust engagement, you're not doing anything with this building until it >> or I mean maybe a special if you have that kind of jingle sitting around at a special, but otherwise you're not until FY29.
And so that's just why I'm cautioning about I hear the need for the robust engagement. We've been talking about these buildings for years. We have to start making a decision or the decision will be made for you by nature.
So it's really about that planning cycle >> and it could cost it could increase the cost >> of wherever whatever path that decision leads to. So I mean obviously I I would like to have
the the select board you know full membership um to go and see these buildings and to have a a discussion especially around I think TCP decision is the most urgent Brooks house we can we can talk about um
but because of the budget and capital implication it I think TCP is the most urgent and not to say what's going to be done with it. >> Just the roof. We got to either put a roof on it or not put a roof. >> It's basically deciding demol demolition
or renovation. >> Which road do we go down? >> And I guess that's what I would like to hear from the municipal building design committee specifically. >> And I would like to hear from Chris Ruth. >> I think Chris Ruth is >> putting all that information together. I >> so
>> Mike I was surprised to hear that that was not part of you know going back to the conversation last year it was surprising to me that they were not that it was not in the >> I believe you may know better that it was originally part of the charge >> in the very beginning >> it was it was the sole building they
were going to renovate and turn into the town hall but it was overly going to be overly priced for such a large >> I mean even just what to do with it as opposed to incorporating it into the overall plan I think part of the problem that I struggle with as management is it's a
$120,000 building to operate. >> So, you know, >> it's not great. >> And and so what are we like so what is it what is it that's going to move that needle for this decision making to
happen? because I I get concerned if we send it back to a committee for this discussion that we will be sitting at this table next year without a decision. >> I think it it would just be more of the feedback from members of the Lunberg Municipal Building Committee to give us
feedback and for us to make an educated decision. I don't think it'll take longer than a meeting hearing their feedback. >> In my opinion, I think there's going to be a diverse opinions on that committee. So if it's not in their charge, you're you're on the committee. You could bring
it to an agenda to just have >> Oh, it's it's actually in an upcoming agenda. I don't know if it's going to be the next agenda, but it is on our list because we do want to make that decision on that. >> Do you know if members have toured? >> Uh not recently. >> Okay.
>> But yeah, >> that could be an option. >> There are some really nasty parts. But we even said like if we're going to talk about this, Chris Ruth needs to be at that meeting too. >> But again, >> have those discussions, too. >> You need to get in that building. You cannot be discussing these buildings in
a vacuum based on photographs. You have to tour them. That's what I've said repeatedly to the municipal building design committee, you have to come and tour. I haven't seen that effort made since I've been here. to me. So, after going through the
buildings and talking to Don while we're going through, Chris wasn't available. Um, it was a last minute thing. He was in the caves. >> He was >> um but Don, you know, has experience and he's he's been on the roof. He's done some patching. He's he's worked in the
building. I I feel like the land and the location are more value than the building. Like that is I can imagine a town hall, a community center, like just totally that whole campus, not even
where the TCP exists right now. It doesn't have to be at that footprint. The driveway could be totally I mean it's a blank slate in my mind. I think that could be a real gem of downtown, right? Long long long-term plan. Um, I
feel like doing something with that building is a square peg round hole thing. Round whatever. I I just feel like it's a force fit. It's just the layout. Um, >> I would just say I think we Yeah, I
think it's definitely something we have to get done. I think we include it as a goal and we'll start planning on how we want to proceed from there. >> So, it would have to happen in August. We would have to have the torch. So, we should have a full board. The election is August 8th. Um
the 11th depending on who's elected, if they can get sworn in by the 11th or you know, depending on vacations, whatever, the sooner we can get the full select board. And it sounds like the municipal building design folks could they they
could schedule that now um to get in and see at least TCP would be would be great because it it is good. We do you know the smart goal format is to have time bound right specific measurable actionable
>> realistic >> realistic and time bound. >> God I can't wait till I can forget that. Um, so the goal would be to bring a recommendation to the special town
meeting. Does >> I know the select board can make that decision right? >> I think this not for the special town meeting. It's >> it's getting into the capital planning cycle to give him enough time that he knows if he's going for the capital plan. So >> that's not enough time. Capital's being
considered in October. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Special town meeting is looking >> No, special this there wouldn't be funding until it would be have to be part of the annual capital plan. >> So Chris could submit a capital request pending I guess. Do we need
>> what is the process? >> So if we said if we said we're going to demolish TCP, we're going to go proceed with aspesus or we're going to proceed with roof repair. So if you the process for making the
decision around whether or not to demo the building does not belong to town meeting. It belongs to this body. >> The funding that would be required to achieve that goal may or may not be um relying on town meeting only if there
was some outside funding source. So if there was no outside funding source, no grant funds or whatever um then you would have to be relying on town meeting. So all of the capital projects come in in the fall. Uh whether it's a roof, a window windows or
you know potentially the asbestous um that was actually the asbestous was submitted as a capital project last year on just the decommission part and that was a little shy of 400,000. Capital planning reviews all the projects in the fall and they submit a um
they submit their plan in January, February. So, and then that's the plan that we discuss at town meeting. But if we if it's if we're talking about something a roof in the million-doll range where either that's the capital plan more or less for
a FY28 that that's your capital plan or it's a small borrowing, but I don't you know our entirety of our capital plan was >> it's usually around 2 million. >> Yeah. So I mean that's the capital plan will be the roof and some other things
but so it really it's going to affect it has this this >> outward effect on all these other projects that are in the queue too. So, we talked about having municipal building design committee. Maybe we can do that in a joint meeting to hear or you're going to get or no, you can just
get the feedback next week. >> I think joint meeting would be fine too. That way you get the people's voices heard at the board meeting cuz I think you're going to see a diverse >> opinions >> opinions on this building >> and I think it's important to hear those >> cuz I also want to get public engagement
and I don't know public comment during that joint meeting is one thing but is this a could this be a public hearing kind it's not official hearing but >> you can have public feedback forum engagement around anything without >> calling it a public hearing. Yeah,
>> but that type of let's really announce it. This is like your chance. Here we are talking about TCP because sometimes, you know, our outreach and information sessions aren't well attended. >> Now, would you guys have at least one
meeting alone to kind of formulate your thoughts prior to the joint meeting? I think the plan is to have it on the agenda to have a vote so that it's decided by the Lunberg municipal building design the direction that we want to go and also give feedback to the select board too. >> So a recommendation basically.
>> So is it already under the jurisdiction? I'm so confused because I think that there was it is now >> it isn't. It was just more of the Lunberg Municipal Building Design could look at all the buildings. >> Okay. So this vote is advisory. >> Yes. Just advisory. And that's what I'm saying is like it really doesn't matter too much. I mean, we want to hear the
opinions, but it's not going to influ it can influence us, but we're still going to ultimately make the decision. >> Some of the members have been on that committee since TCP, since the creation, the reuse, right? >> Yes. >> I think Greg has, right? >> I think. And David Blat maybe too, I
want to say. >> Greg Roy. >> Yeah, >> David Blat. >> Yeah, I think those three. And Christina maybe >> Christina came on a little later, but yeah. >> Okay. She's been there for a long time. >> Yeah. Um, >> so that's something I mean we we can
formulate a goal but I think maybe one action item even that we should take now is >> yeah this is going to happen quick. We may not have a full select board though until >> We could take the tours just after the election and if people come as members
of the public that would work too if they're not sworn in >> the the public on a tour. >> So we have to be careful especially public meeting. >> It depends. It's you don't you don't have to do it as a public meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Especially in TCP.
>> We should wear masks in there. I have concerns even going into the building. >> Yes. Yeah, I did too. There were parts where >> there's at least one room that's bad. >> We did not go in because it was described to me as bright green and I'm like, I'm good. >> And actually, when we unlocked that door, it had been there was the heavy
rains. >> Oh, it was still raining in the building. >> Still raining in the build. So, it was actively raining in the building last week. >> I mean, are there any discussions of anyone considering the isolated part? I thought this was mostly just for the the area that is under
>> so the the roof is the worst in the area that's been decommissioned, >> right? And no one's considering >> the roof is not when you read that document that's transmitted, the roof is not okay in the rest of it. So,
>> but is is there anyone entertaining saving the rest of it? >> Not that I've heard. So it's the it's terminated right here. >> Yeah. So I thought basically that's all been written off anyway. We're just talking about here, >> right? That's
substantial amount >> focus is just >> the calf, the gym. >> Yeah. >> And that wing on the side. >> Not not this. Not the back. >> Not the back. >> Okay. >> There. I would tore the back. Because here's why. a year ago,
>> the the school was operating out of that wing that's now decommissioned. And it and that is the exact area that if they were in if they did not move, if that transition didn't happen, they would have been actively affected in this winter. So, it's it's only one. So, I
say tore that because that's the future of the rest. >> You don't have you don't have to go into the green room. >> Yeah. I don't plan on going in any of the backwing like I can trust the experts. I was convinced before just hearing that the the place needed to come down, but it's just and I do realize it's been
discussed for 20 years. I would just hate for 20 years and then spontaneous spontaneously make a decision, you know, without going through the municipal building design committee. I mean, he's clearly in tough shape. >> Yeah, I think a good if we're talking
about what we could put a part of the goals is maybe there's a a joint meeting mid to late August with the municipal building design committee somewhere around that timeline. That'll give us the the feedback we need as long as we also have the Chris Ruth's
uh opinion as well. I think then we'll be able to make a decision pretty quickly. >> Do we need to give them formal authority over that, you know, chiming in on the TCP or just this conversation is enough? I think reaching out to David Blat to make sure we have that feedback before a
certain date. >> But I mean just like the directive like the the conversation before was that the the charge did not include TCP. Do we have to provide them with that quote charge or is just this conversation? >> I don't think we have to give them a
charge. We can seek their advice >> as it relates to TCP. the recommendation because a handful of members were on the committee when this building was reuse was actively being considered. That was the only
>> and to be honest the the committee a lot of committee members are are eager to hear Chris Ruth's opinion before making a decision. It >> it's funny actually as I pull up their page. So the Lunberg Municipal Building Design Committee, formerly the TC Pacios Building Design Committee.
So that that was the whole name. Um >> yeah, and a lot of focus now has been on the Ritter building. Looking at the Ritter building as >> Yeah. >> a town hall, >> but I I actually don't see in looking at this why it's not currently under the charge, >> frankly. >> Okay.
>> But I think the the charge really is all buildings. It really is. It has been the all buildings. I think the book's house >> has changed on town staff finding a home for them under it's it was school last year was part of the plan right the ACE and all of that getting all all town and
school functions under one roof well the school was in TCP last year so they're looking to move them out no one was going to move you weren't going to move town functions into TCP um because they were looking to move out >> so it Sounds like it might be just more
giving a directive to the chair to open up the discussion to include TCP. >> I think I can I can contact the chair David Blat and ask um select board formally requests, you
know, a discussion and recommendation regarding demolition versus renovation of TCP. I think that would be perfect >> with a timeline. So that this isn't like a six-year project. >> Just not what it's going to be renovated, who's going to be there. If you demolish, what is that space going
to turn into? No. Simply do we tear it down or do we >> what is the opinion of the the committee >> in anticipate? I'm not going to put another nickel into it unless we know we're going to renovate and then that the question is going to be, well, what's the plan? What are you going to renovate it for?
That's going to be the challenge going to town meeting on a large capital project and they say why? >> Yeah. >> But if the >> this is that whole part the big picture is the public needs all the information. This is how much it's going to cost. This is the plan for it.
>> This is who's going to be in the building in the future. This is who's going to be the the tenants. Whatever. Right. >> The plan I at this point >> I don't think that plan would be more direction. >> Hold on. I don't think I think you two are talking about two different things. She's talking about just going for are
we going to renovate period, >> but you're talking about user groups. I don't >> Oh, I'm saying if we're going to renovate, we need to be able to tell the public that next question that they're going to be asking. >> But I don't think that you're talking about have I didn't think you were talking about that in this.
>> So, so let me let me let me talk it through. If the decision of the select board is to demolish, that's easy. That's a >> abatement. Tear it down. We then decide what to do with with that land. Okay.
If if the decision is to renovate, that triggers a roof replacement, which is big money. You're not going to No one is going to support replacing the roof unless you know what you're going to do with that building once a roof is replaced. Exactly. And that's more
>> cuz you don't want to replace a roof and then demolish. >> And that's what I'm concerned about running out of the runway. >> Yeah. I think I think realistically if the decision were to renovate and replace the roof, >> the plan the realistically the plan
would be simply a commitment to that would become our town hall. That's where where we would look to move town staff. >> I don't know. I think the public could say this is >> or the food
and a community center gym >> and voting like that could be and that doesn't carry a lot of weight >> but this is my worry and I think that's that's what I think we need to tell the public this would be the plan of what the building would be. >> Every place I lived voting has been in the school or church basement.
>> Yeah. And I'm not saying that's my direction. I'm just saying I think that's likely going to continue what the usage is. We're not going to be bringing in new businesses into this building. It's this is likely what's going to be the case. >> Oh, I I don't Are you saying that if we
retain TCP, you wouldn't be moving us over there? >> I would highly doubt it. I don't I don't >> that that is >> I don't think there's enough space. Maybe >> there's more space over there than in either building for sure. >> It's laid out weird. >> It's laid out terribly. Yeah, it's laid out like a school
>> and and I and I think for that to make sense, you know, you'd have to have a plan for this building as well as Ritter. You know, no plan like that could include another vacant building. >> And here we are in 20 years of this.
>> So that would that would have to be the the trigger like unless you're going to just renovate this building and just renovate Ritter as is and you know rearrange as you see fit. Um, I think that's that's the only that's really I think the the most economic e economical
answer if you're not willing to address the issue of one of these or both being surplus if you're if if and that that's that would be very difficult and if you and and this is what I'd be open to hear discussions if if you cannot
>> okay >> do exactly that identify either one of these surplus >> okay all right My inclination would be to renovate this building >> and renovate Ritter and that will continue to be a divided town hall. >> Yeah. I think with TCP I think it's more
of if we did go in the direction of fixing the roof, we're going to have to give the public >> an idea of what it's going to be. A plan what it's going to be. >> We all would want it, right? >> Yeah. I just don't think we're going to make that plan until we actually vote to move along with that plan.
It's step by step what's triggering what. So, I don't think we have to make that decision tonight. >> Oh. Oh, no. >> I think I think we're all on the same page. >> Just the actions that we need to take. Um because because we can't delay. We have to get we have to get this going. We have to get the right people in the
room, get eyes on on the building. Um going back a little bit, the the charge and composition of the building design committee. Glenn had you had something on your goals. I did I don't remember if you had >> I think it's just the not so much of the design committee as much as the
buildings. I think the select board should be more active in the process. >> Well, the buildings I >> Yeah, for sure. And I did like you know I'd be open up to more discussions to the like the uh permanent building whatever the uh vice chair was talking about in terms of our permanent building
>> that came up in department head feedback too. Did you catch that? >> Yeah. No, I didn't. So there is interest. Can I say >> it's in the it's in the folders. >> Okay. >> I think >> Chris Ruth um has expressed an interest in in a permanent
>> Yeah. building design committee and I feel like if again the staff is willing to take this on I feel like they are the subject matter experts and should be leading the charge as as far
as that committee goes I think it's I think we've had you know the building design committee comprised of residents and volunteers for years and they've done a lot of work, but I imagine the frustration levels it's
spinning wheels, right? It's it's and I feel like we need like the facilities director is the person the right person to who has all the knowledge, the experience, the knowledge of the buildings, the
knowledge of how staff works. You know, he's he's he's in it every day. And if he's willing to to lead that charge, I am more than happy to let him do that. >> I agree. >> Will he do that as part of the committee like lead the committee like the
municipal building design committee or you're saying he'd be a a lone wolf? >> Um he would who would he work who he would have to >> I would >> probably Brian Gingris would be involved I imagine >> at some point. I think that Chris, if we
look at his feedback, was looking for um more staff involvement on the committee. Should have printed all these out. Let's see. He has a lot of um
>> he he mentions it um in several places. >> Yeah. >> Planning and decision- making around municipal buildings TCP and town hall Ritter in particular that was a common theme. But yeah, I would still want the committee input or a committee's involvement. >> I think we should I think we need to
rework the municipal design committee to include what to do with the loss of the TP TCP use and plan to knock it down before new issues arise. I think the school department needs to be involved as well since Turkey Hill needs attention one way or another. Um and then he said capital planning in
regards to buildings being talked about in the building design committee. This is what are the three most important challenges facing your departments. Capital planning in regards to buildings being talked about in the building design committee. Everything is always on hold since work on the buildings might change on some things. Um and then what organizational issues
should the select board and town manager prioritize during FY27? A building committee of some kind to look at all town properties including schools and stop the infighting in groups working in a vacuum potentially bringing all facilities under one umbrella would help this.
>> So I think the building committee that Chris is and correct me if I'm wrong cuz you conversation. Yeah, >> it's his building committee is more than just what to do with them. It's also getting his his head around the maintenance regular maintenance and
monitoring the the um condition because that's another area that had transition maintenance records are not always complete or can't be found whatever. So I think Chris's is
that fair is that a fair? I think I think he'd look you know I think if maybe in the in the tour we can pull some of this out you know from him or in some of the conversations you can talk directly to Chris about his thoughts but you know he's in these buildings working these buildings every day and I think
that he wants to be able to make sure that his perspective is being strongly considered. So I guess I would word it as I hear I hear you Glenn and I'm wondering more of in general can we put this as a goal of looking at the charge
of the Luna initial building design committee maybe looking at the composition all that >> and I think we worked through it throughout the year >> that was actually a goal last year >> I just don't want to work through >> I copied it from last year's goal >> I don't want to work through it all tonight I think it's more of like what are the areas we all agree on that we
have to get done this year and let's throw it on as goal >> yeah and in the meantime your next meeting or meetings if if he has an intricral role in the discussions that you guys have and you know guide you guys in your >> Oh, he does. And I think that's what's going to come up with the TCP, right? >> It's a challenge for staff to attain.
>> Of course, attend every meeting, right? >> Our meetings after hours, it's the evening people struggle with >> especially if they have, you know, young families and what. >> Yeah. And it could be on Zoom, too. They can jump on Zoom. I know Chris, I mean, Lunberg Municipal Building Design is always so that helps a lot.
>> Okay. So that's TCP. Um, Brooks House is the other one. So >> I think it I think it'd be great to work in the Brooks House. I don't know if it needs to be a goal cuz I don't know if we're going to get it done this year is my concern. It could happen. >> I think we have to do something.
>> Doesn't have to be a goal. >> So you're familiar 2024. >> I think it's all buildings. I think it's it's mass like when I put my goals like maybe two two or three of the buildings we make some progress on. And you never know what you're going to
actually make progress on. Maybe we do get some progress on Massav. Maybe we get progress on TCP. Maybe we get progress on Brooks House. >> But I'm talking about the the special town meeting article >> about the Brooks House, the non-binding vote where the select board >> Yeah.
>> was asked to write a report regarding long-term lease or selling of the Brooks House. >> And then so this was before right before you joined. I have lost time. I've lost track of time. >> So anyway, approved special town meeting and then
>> Michael Ray was the chair of the municipal building design committee. Carter was here and he said, "Hey, I'm going to give this cuz we said the select board said okay, we can have this report, but none of us know how to do this." And Carter said, "We could do it in house. We'll do it in-house. Won't
cost anything." Okay, fine. Then after special town meeting when the article passed, Carter said, "Okay, I'm gonna go to Chris Riley and ask him to start working on this is that is that now like he's looking for the select board to say yes, go ahead." And Michael Ray said, "Well, the
municipal building design committee could do it, take it on, cuz they have the expertise. They have people who work in in building and property management and engineering and blah blah blah." Nothing came of it. Um I actually went through
and have I have the the article from special town meeting is here. Um and I went through the municipal building design select board meetings where this was discussed. Um there was never a formal vote, but
basically uh by just straw poll, the majority of the municipal building design committee was not in favor of putting a nickel into Brook's house or even subdividing the parcel. >> Yeah. So I know all the backstory to this and I've been a part of it, too.
Um, and I don't know if there was enough work done uh to say that they actually did a concerted effort or if the select board did a concerted effort. I think people are going to argue that some people will argue that there wasn't enough effort put into it. Um, I do know that the majority of the Lunberg
Municipal Building Design Committee hearing I think and again if we hear from Chris Ruth that there's a lot of work that needs to get done for that building to actually be uh used. And I think it would be good again have Chris Ruth in and uh talk about the building. But I I wonder too if we could do
something similar and I'd love to hear from the town manager on this if she's prepared, but something like uh with Massav, how we talked about this is what we could do with Massav and the likelihood of these buildings. >> We talked about that today. >> Can we do a similar path with the Brooks House and I wonder if it would end up in
the same boat? >> So yes, we can. Um, I think that we don't have the same challenges at the Brooks House that we have at 925 in terms of needing necessarily the outside
experts to come in and give us like Mass Development came in and helped draft that RFP. Um, I I believe that we could put together a scope for an RFP and put it out on the street to see if that
gathered any elicited any responses. The issue with that though is that that's not what the charge was of the November special town meeting. The November 2024 special town meeting didn't tell you to go out and sell the darn thing. >> It didn't tell you to lease the thing.
If we put that RFP out, we're seeing if somebody is actually willing to lease or purchase it. What the town meeting asked for is for a report on which way to go, right,
advising what needs to happen, not doing it. So, I think this select board probably needs to close out in one method or another this non-binding vote from town meeting. and what the directive was. Um, either do it or say
you're not doing it or do something, but this is just going to linger here. >> Is there a way to explore opportunities without doing the RFP? >> You can you can have somebody provide opinions like you could bring in real estate professionals and have them
provide opinions on what the likelihood is. The site is challenging due to the detention basins on either side, the lack of parking. Um the specific charge in number two and three of article 10 uh
from the November special calls for um easements from the trustees relative to parking at the library. Um I've heard that that's unlikely to be um a go. So
yes, we can. At what cost? Okay. So we have a director of planning and economic development who you have heard from. He has a plan. You have things in your goals related to economic development. I have things in my goals related to zoning and economic development.
So yes, we can have him do this, but he's not focused on zoning and economic development. while he's focused on preparing a soft solicitation for what may or could be eventually someday going into the Brooks House. I'll tell you that I have had people reach out about 925 Mass.
They've want prior to it being advertised. They've been there's been interest. What are you doing? I'm interested in that building. What is I've never had a call about the Brooks House. >> That's good to know. >> Yeah. My my only thing with this is I don't want to put a lot of money or time
of our staff into this if we can find an affordable way to look at opportunities or if the RFP is a low cost and it doesn't commit us. >> It does. So it us Yeah. So I mean you'd be really dealing in bad faith if you knew you're going to pull it. Yeah.
>> Um, so the other thing that I did ask Chris Ruth to do is to do a loose back of the napkin on what it would cost to renovate the first floor only of the Brooks house and do the roof cuz you need a roof and some ADA upgrades. So
what you would but not do any of the renovations on the second or third floor um for municipal office space. What that may be, I don't know. Other thoughts include perhaps the facilities, veterans, wreck, things that we can move
out of prime real estate to open up some prime real estate and get people under one building while we wait for the bigger project to flesh out. So, if that was a lowcost rena to get some great office space, I think that probably
makes a little bit more sense than sell. But I know that the school walked away from this at one point and the town never picked it up. >> See, I'm reluctant to I I wouldn't want to sell the land. >> No. >> And you're not going to sell just the building and >> Well, I think that that was the idea
lease that the building. No, no, no. It was It was either a long-term lease or sell the building and have it relocated. >> I thought that was a long time ago. It was a while ago. Didn't they put that out? No one paid for it. Yeah. No one's gone, >> right? Like try to sell it for a dollar
if you move it. >> Right. It was I think the article was more about and I don't I I haven't read it recently, but it was more about what what are the possibilities of what you could use the building for. >> Oh, there's six points in here. >> The purpose of the article is to save the Brooks House from demolition without
using taxpayer money. The Brooks House is an attractive historic building located at 1033 Massachusetts Avenue. The article seeks to create the conditions for the building's restoration, renovation, and valuable reuse using private funds and initiative. In order to do this, the
article asks town meeting to request the select board to investigate and report back on a sale or long-term lease of the building along with a minimal lot footprint. So, it's a report. the the objective was a report on the likelihood of success.
>> And I struggle with how do you how do you how do we get the data to to draw a conclusion? Like it just >> Yeah, we just need to have a a formal report done that that can't be done that that should not cost. >> How much would an RFP cost? >> So an RFP cost time.
>> Yeah, just more of time. So I wonder how much we could just put it to a vote of the town at a town meeting. would you like to pursue an RFP for the Brooks House? And we could at least pursue the RFP, even do it in the fall. >> You don't need that helps us with the
report. We get that feedback. >> You don't need town authorization to do that. >> So, you the select board can do that today. Um the town meeting piece is that town meeting told you to do something else. >> So, how do you want to deal with what
town meeting told you to do? I mean, the loudest voices I've heard regarding Brooks House are to use it for bonfire, to use it as a training for the fire department. I mean, along those lines, >> I mean, it strikes me as unrealistic. And if we just need someone to write a
report highlighting, you know, what I think it is, you know, unrealistic. If there is somebody, you know, in >> it's that subject matter expert, how do you get that person? >> Who is that? I can go to the planner and we can have I can go to Stephen and ask him to put together the elements on the
parking what would be required and his professional opinion but that's I mean we could >> we could do that >> and who was behind that could we consult with the >> the APDC. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So if we just bring them in and you know maybe the tone has changed over
over the time but >> well I don't they are different two new members on there but >> no but I think it would be good to have a select board report in response some sort of response >> to their request >> we just don't have the expertise to to
our our report would carry no weight in my opinion we have no ex maybe that's >> no I think it would be from the feedback of our director of planning and economic development and our >> tour >> and Chris Ruth >> and your tour >> and tour. Yeah. >> And tour. That's all. I think that would be
>> our due diligence. >> Our due diligence. Exactly. Have those two specialists give us the feedback >> and bring them along for the process. >> Mhm. >> Any information they can give us to help us with the report and then we write the report. >> And if we come if we come up with, you know, >> different opinions on it, it is what it
is. I mean, it's it's the process. >> It's Yeah. And this I think this falls under the other category of working with other committees and boards that we're going to work willing to work with them and do the work that they're requesting to. >> I wonder if Adam Bernie can work with
Steven Wallace, too. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> I don't know what he's, you know, what his experience has been in Sudbury since leaving here. >> Yeah, I was speaking to the chair earlier and she had asked if Mr. Wallace had experience with these types of
properties and I know he has had experience with conversions to housing. >> Yeah. >> Um but I don't know about commercial. I don't think I don't think so for >> Well, that could be converted to housing too right?
That's going to take a lot more money. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It wouldn't be private. >> No. >> Connected to them. >> And again, if someone were to come in, whether it's business or residence, >> they take it as is and they do the they
pay for whatever needs to be done. I I would not support the town >> unless it was >> unless the town was going to use it. Yes. >> And and at that I've already sh I would support the first floor. I'd like to take
>> Yeah, I've tor I've t to it. >> I've t to >> It's I mean it's large on the first floor. It's there's a big there's big space on the first floor. >> I toured it with Chris Ruth and he gave a lot of feedback which is very helpful. >> Got it. >> Yeah. Um
Okay. So, I can draft the goal around writing a report. Is there a timeline we want to what time >> it would be good to have done for the fall town meeting? Okay. >> You're supposed to have it done for what was it? >> Two years ago. >> Yeah. Uh
>> no, a year. October 2025 was when we were supposed to have it. I think >> that's right. >> Only a year late. >> No, but I think it's >> that's municipal time. >> It's a different select board and the question is still out there and the article is still out there. >> That's not a bad actually timeline.
>> All right. So, I'll try to set that. So, what I'll I'll we're not going to get through, you know, finalizing formalizing goals tonight, but um I will work on whatever we get through tonight, drafting a goal that we can discuss at a
couple weeks, I think, because >> I think even even if we don't finish tonight, it's finding those commonalities. I think that we >> Well, it's important town it's more important for the town manager goals to be finalized because she will be assessed on them, >> right? It's not a full year >> contract. She has contractual timelines.
>> Um, okay. So, that's the Brooks House. Again, if we can get So, you've seen the Brooks House? >> Yes. >> And you've seen the Brooks House? >> I have. >> Okay. So, but you haven't been in TCP. >> Well, I have, but not on like a formal tour. >> Yeah. And hearing hearing the the narration. >> I don't want to go in the back. I I
understand your point. >> Yeah. I have no interest in going in the back. >> Well, if I'm sick next week, you don't mind. >> Yeah. >> We have a lot of cleanout to do in the back. So, we'll all be working in the back, cleaning out paper. There is a lot there. >> Yeah, I I would tore it, but I'm just saying.
>> Okay. So, um I I mean I think we spent a lot of time on bu on buildings, but I think that is probably at least for me a top priority. And I think well, you have >> Yeah, I had it as I overall town buildings like I think Turkey Hill I think working with the school committee
with any needs they need and having those open discussions about their progress >> on what they want to do with Turkey Hill. I think it's collaboration and buildings. >> So I may differ with you a little bit on the Turkey Hill point of view. I view
our role as >> I'm not even going to say necessarily advisory maybe, >> but I I agree. I think it's it's similar to advisory. It's just being there. I don't even know if it >> hearing them sharing that information and making sure the public's aware of the progress
>> cuz I feel I feel like that is MSBA that's that's their >> what if it's a request for this plot of land. We were thinking about this plot of land or >> I think MSBA um you it does require actually the submission requires a vote of the select board. So when there is
going to be a formal application there is a select board involvement in the formality of it. Um, so >> and maybe it's again not this year cuz it's going to be I think a long process but I think it's what buildings are we going to make progress on? Maybe there is progress on Turkey Hill. Maybe it's
Massav. Maybe it's Brooks House. Okay. Um, so that one and then we'll keep the evaluating the charge. Uh, okay. What else can we get?
What other commonalities? Um I didn't Well, okay, let's talk about public engagement. Yeah, because I think that was a common thread, right? >> Yeah. >> Um and I think when I talk about engagement, I'm talking about staff and
public >> both. Um >> yeah and I think that one's great. I think especially too for the town manager that's that's that kind of connection with the select board and the town manager that I had staff engagement and um other committees and boards and
public. >> So Brian, I'm looking at yours the annual report to residents. Is that different than the town report? >> No, I think it's just okay. >> I want to make sure we're kind of hitting all the different >> Hold on. Don't answer that yet. It's
funny because I have that one asterisk. The select board does not submit, right, >> in this community a report for the annual town report. That's uncommon. So, um you could certainly draft an a report
for the annual town report that you then bring more broadly. But if you're doing an annual report, it should be the one that you're doing you're also submitting for the annual town report cuz it's just not happening right now.
And typically that's major actions of the board uh positive or negative if you had to revoke anybody's licenses. But you talk about all the licensing activity, all the policy activity, all the work that you did throughout the year. It's really your work highlighted in that.
>> Is that what you were thinking? >> I am thinking anything to get us more communication with the public. So if it's that avenue or a different avenue, I am definitely open to ideas and suggestions. I just think we got to try a little bit
harder cuz I don't think it's working right now. Which part? >> I think it's just getting the information out to the public. I think when the the last election happened, I feel like there was a lot of stuff on
Facebook and not a lot of people with the right information. There was information coming in all different directions and I feel like the public wasn't fully aware of all of the information. Yeah. So I I actually have a little bit
of a different opinion. Um I think that you have a lot of people coming to town meeting that are fairly wellinformed more or less. um they might be off on a couple of the details or facts, but it seems that they either through the
materials or asking questions and through the discussions are fairly tuned in. I agree that the social media world is what it is. I am shared with some highlight reels, but
I'm not on every day. Um I recently just listened to on the um 351 podcast which is the Mass Municipal Association. They just did a a podcast on municipal communicators. And I would suggest all
of you that are interested in this listen to it because the the space for municipalities is more difficult to work in than what the public is accustomed to. We are we are
living in a time that if you hear a bang or something goes bump, you can go on your phone and figure out pretty quickly what it is. that immediate information coupled with the AI analysis of information that's out there and you can
get synthesized information to you very quickly. We have just eliminated the position for the person who was dedicated in that role. Um not to say that the assistant town manager and others won't fill some of those communications, but the reality is we're always going to
be lagging because we're we're not going to be duking it out in the comment section. Right? We're not going to be everywhere. It's typically that our communications on social media or web are one-sided
and that it's not until you come into a forum um that you >> It's not real time. It's not it's not >> but I don't know that I'm not saying don't work on >> No, I I agree. I don't know the avenue of how you address it.
And like you can see two different votes at the town meeting versus at the election. >> Correct. >> Right. >> It's the information is not getting there. >> I think it's even not just information. It's just even awareness. >> Like even where to find information
people struggle with sometimes I think. >> Mhm. >> Like people were asking about where do I find the the articles for town meaning? It's like it was mailed. The book was mailed to your house. Literally, it's right there. So, you It's
I felt like some of the feedback that I got from and this is the first time that we really did like a robust budget website, right? It was later than I wanted it to be, but it had a lot of information. Some of the feedback that I heard was it was too much. It was, you
know, I'm trying to provide as much information so people can distill it down to whatever level they you can go as deep or shallow as you want to go. And then there was a lot of criticism. I couldn't understand it. It was this was too confusing to me. But if you're not involved,
>> but then I heard the opposite of I finally understood like the details helped like you have every >> right >> so many different types of people who >> and I think that >> learn differently. I was just going to say I think that that's why having not just website,
>> not just social media, but coupled with the forum, the pack, >> the whatever, >> get as many as we can. >> Yeah. >> To get the cross-section a little bit better. >> So, we have town website, we have social
media, although we don't have the person to do it now. Um, so it's going to be >> I've only ruined the website a several times and deleted pages several times. >> Um, we have pack >> and we can do the the sessions, you
know, the the science fair style sessions before the town meeting. >> Um, I don't what what do you think about the the coffee with the chief >> kind of thing? >> Yeah, >> I'm good with that. >> Thank you. I think it's great being transparent. It's being open.
>> We can only extend the offer and the opportunities. We can't force people to engage. But what I like about that is an opportunity to meet with staff. >> Yeah. It just opens it up and and it's important for us to express to the public that each and every one of us
would meet anyone individually like they can email us. They can grab us and say, "Hey, can we meet sometime?" And I think if we make it that much easier, whether whether it's we even start, you know, an hour, you know, we arrive here and two people arrive here an hour earlier and just have office
hours here >> prior to a meeting >> or like you said, try it out at public places. I think it's a great idea. >> Yeah, >> I think it it's less intimidating than when you're >> I don't like that. >> Um >> and if they're intimidated by two, you
can go with one. Yeah, I think it's definitely part of the communication goal and outreach and engagement. >> Okay. Um Brian, is there anything else in yours that we didn't capture? >> Glenn, did you
>> Well, I think now that they're all public documents that were discussed that I think we can try to I don't know if you want to draft look at them. we can look at him again and see if there's any collaboration and then we can meet again. And >> there's you hear that something in there's something on
Glenn's that's specific that's on yours that's not specific and is woven into yours and that's the master plan and it's in yours in the >> very first thing where you say develop a long-term plan that addresses a
strategic plan that addresses all these things. Well, those are addressed by the master plan, right? I It's funny that that that conversation came up at the last meeting. I I don't know. I think were all of you on the board when we reviewed the master plan and we had to
there was a grid and we had to look at it. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, when the master plan is done, >> it doesn't just go on a shelf. It has assignments in it. And there will be assignments for myself. There will be assignments for this board. There will
be assignments for finance committee. There will be assignments for capital planning committee. And so that very much like Glenn suggested typically moves into an implementation committee. Sometimes it's the same people, but that thing actually is the starting point
that the community has already spoken that this is where they would like the focus to be and to start going towards these things. There's you have community responses around what they want for economic development. You have community responses around housing. You have community responses around a lot of
these topics. And that should be that's what the master plan is the guiding document for the community. So I actually I started that because >> I had missed it completely but >> that should be a goal once it's done. >> And I think it's important to say that
it is exactly like you said a guide. No decisions have been made. It's just it's a guiding document so people don't have to think that you know there'll still be a public process to >> Yeah. But the and the community has given their opinion that this is what they would like to see.
>> Yeah. Some >> that's right. The survey you know what if you don't participate you can't complain. >> But oh okay and that works. No, this survey I think that there wasn't a lot of responses, but I believe that the
survey was conducted three times. >> Yeah. And I remember them saying that they got more responses than they they were happy with the overunder was happy with the response the number of responses >> from the you know from the sidelines though it just did not a lot. >> So how does that become a goal?
>> So you should the goal should be the implementation. So, you should start and the I have not seen the final document, but it it has timelines in there with the assignments of when you're supposed to be completing things.
So, those things should whatever work to implement year one goals of the master plan that are assigned to the select board. >> So, that's not not under the engagement category. That's just a standalone. It's it's it's
the direction of it kind of leads to all other things would flow from that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Maybe it's something like ensuring town priorities align align with the master plan. >> Yeah. I mean like 925 comes up, you know, just downtown community sidewalks.
I mean every it's everything. >> Yeah. Incorporate master plan priorities into strategic planning discussions. Okay. >> All right. Um, >> maybe that'll cover our plan for the Brooks House. >> Oh, maybe it's in there.
>> Yeah, >> there you go. >> There's a report. Page six. >> Yeah. >> Okay, we're starting to lose it now. Um, economic development and diversify
revenue. So, I didn't have a lot of in in the way of uh budget and FY28. What did I put? Um, one thing was to request um DLS representative to
present on some of the municipal budget topics that came up last year around the types of funds, best practices, blah blah blah. I think it would be good to hear even though it's in the the the draft policies we have um it would be
good to have to hear it from someone outside of town and be able to ask them questions and I think fin is open to that. Yeah, they've identified several policies that they would like to address first. Um to make
their recommendations around adopting um and so I have committed that I will work to get people in to present to them. Um it's going to probably work around those subject matter expert schedules. Um but they have requested
around OPED um revenue projections. I have to remember where I put this stabilization accounts and reserves and free cash policy. >> Yeah, I think I think we're going to
have policy as a goal. I think that makes sense. We're going to see it from different committees like the finance committee. I think maybe maybe even personnel committee is going to be bringing some. I think going to be open to we just have to be open to working on policies that come up and you've already listed a few too few in your your goals.
I I think this one hearing from DLS is is policies is part of it, but I think it's also just education, understanding the budget process, the different pieces of the budget, how they how they interact, um how it impacts a bond
rating and things like that. just having I think it's beneficial for particularly obviously for FINCOM but also for um select board and school committee to have some working knowledge and awareness of just some basic municipal
budget >> understanding if you pull this thread >> where is that coming from the other end and that's what I think is missing from a lot of these conversations um >> weather analogy >> sorry madam town manager, be less
conservative on the revenues, project closer to actuals on the revenues. Great, not a problem. I'll do that. How do you want to fund your capital plan? And so, you have to have the conversation in totality, not just one-sided.
>> I've used the analogy last year to a number of people of a sweater. You you you see a loose thread or and you pull it, before you know it, your sleeve falls off. you think it's nothing but it's things are so connected. Um it's not always obvious to if if you're not
in this um how they are connected and the impacts, >> right? like you know if the town I'm not going to say what a OPED adviser is going to tell you but if the town decided not to contribute to its OPED liability because it's never going to get funded it's only funded at 6% and
we're never going to meet this and da da da and then we don't submit we don't contribute to OPED for five six years and the school wants to go out for a borrowing that may have an impact >> yeah I I look at it more big picture I'm like let's work with the committees finance committee find commonality ities
like this that we can meet and have those presentations to and have those discussions >> and I don't think you two were well maybe you were these policies have not been adopted. >> Mhm. >> So draft >> these policies need to be adopted by the select board um in either their current
version or a future version but they need to we receive grant funds. We need to complete the work. Um, okay. The other budget I it doesn't So, we're not going to have a tri board like we
did last year. No >> of having um department heads come in August, September. It's um it's not doable I think this year um given all the operational challenges and transition still going on. I think the
earliest talking with town manager that we could get a department um budget would be in December. >> So that's that's a timeline that's been shared with Fincom I believe >> for early budget >> just for preview. Um >> I think it's not I'm not too concerned
about that townwide. I think most departments probably not going to have any major changes. We saw the fire department obviously last year but I think the other departments and even the fire department going in the future. I don't think there's going to be any big changes. I do think the school probably wants to start early, get that
information out there because there could be some >> if they want to. That's that's fine. That's up to, you know, >> I think Yeah. time wise. And again, that maybe that's us communicating with the schools or maybe it's finance committee working with the schools, but I don't think it's a a priority or a goal this year >> to be early. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No, I think if maybe fire only because
the chief is retiring, so there may be an early, you know, so he can participate kind of have some overlap. So that that >> but I don't think it's rises to the goal setting. >> Yeah. I don't >> I just I I would like us to to commit to just if if they present the fincom which
it looks like that will be the plan that we watch just to be infor stay informed because we won't have the the tri board at least as we did it last year. We may have a kickoff. We I've talked with the chair of the finance committee and school committee of possibly you know having a
kind of a kickoff budget season try board just highle strategies of departments or whatever and any you know flags that you see kind of thing. >> Yeah, I would support that. I don't think it needs to be a goal though. >> It's not going to be like last year. >> Um
what haven't I touched on? Uh our select board policies and procedures is kind of standard. Uh I have many tabs open. Um is there any did we hit on joint
meetings and other boards? It kind of is woven into the other goals or some joint meetings and whatnot. >> Do you want to do a just a quick recap of what you kind of you want to summarize? I didn't get to to I think Glenn may have some other ones
here. Um the economic development I feel that's that's Steven Wallace territory. I don't know that select board can actually drive that. >> Select board can be instrumental
when the bylaws are coming in assisting to explain the bylaws and supporting the changes. But >> but planning department land use is is doing the work. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um
Okay. And Glenn, we got the master plan. We got uh capital is a is another budget. Do we want to do something We don't have a Oh, no. You're the You're our rep on capital. Yes.
>> Right now. Yeah. >> Well, you want to give that up already? >> I might. Yeah. We'll see what the other two want to >> I know. They they are definitely going to >> I just recently grabbed it. >> Um it's a good rope. >> It is. >> It is a great rope. >> I don't know going to be on it now for
school. >> Oh, and Chris and Mr. Bmore are going to probably have to duke it out. >> Yeah. Um Glenn, what what can we do beyond what we've done in terms of
advocacy for? >> Sure. >> Advocacy for or you know getting advocacy. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's just it's just it always just seems to kind of you know, we go through the motion and then we forget about it.
We we've got to keep it kind of ties in with not just saying that our funding issues are strictly Proposition 2 and a half and inflation. It's Proposition 2 and a half inflation and the lack of funding from the state. So part of our part of our advocacy has to be to fully
inform uh the the voters of the challenges that we're facing financially and that it's in large part like I said involves the lack of funding from the state and it's it is something I think more and more people are familiar with but I I think part of the advocacy is
just like I said that transparency of saying you know the Lunberg voters are paying you You know, I use the word generous, but I mean, we're essentially taking the money. They're not donating it, but they're very generous with their tax dollars, the resident, the real
estate tax dollars, and that they're, you know, they're they're paying a lot now, and we need more funding from the state. So, it could be as simple as that, but it's just so often there just seems to be almost like a firewall that protects those who we've you've heard me
say this before, but those who we've elected to represent us on the state level, there seems to be a little bit of a firewall that protects and that we seem to be more punching down than punching up. And we need to just keep focus on our primary challenges on
funding. And the funding can't be solely relied upon the real estate tax dollars here in Lunenburgg. >> So Glenn, I have a question and then I I I think I have some feedback. So are you is this mainly focused on writing letters to different people like Josh
drafting letters and writing letters? Well, I again I think a a good portion of it is is to enlist the services of the support of the citizens and let them know that it's it's not just a a a a
situation where it's perceived that the voters here in Lunberg don't know what they just voted down. I think it's it's important to maybe understand that the voters do understand what they voted on. It breaks their heart and they
understand the impact that it has. But we need to engage them in engaging those who are making the decisions that we're suffering under. And it's it's that's the million-dollar question of how do we do that? But I don't think it's simply
writing a strongly worded letter and then pivoting and forgetting about it and just, you know, that's essentially what I'm trying to say without, you know, >> more of an active lobbying role. >> Yeah. It just it just being transparent
that you know, like I said a lot of times and you heard me chime in a couple of times when when it said Proposition 2 and a half inflation. And I go, "Yeah, but also so we just need to like bring everybody, you know, and what they do with that information is it's up to
them." But that's in a nutshell kind of what I'm referring to. >> Yeah. I don't know what specific I guess we would do outside of the letters, how how much lobbying we would do, how would we do that? I think my thought was I don't think it raises as high as much as a goal that I would support and I
would hope the chair would support us even as individuals writing letters, bringing it to the select board, talking about those letters, editing, revising and then sending them to legislators. Uh I think it's uh helpful. I think they do listen and I think the public sees it too. Um, and then people even share
those emails. Uh, and and there's there's definitely other people sending letters besides us when they see what we're doing. >> So, the what I struggle with, not just with this, but with a lot of things, is you identify a problem. It's been
identified. It's known. Complain. Complain. What's the solution? When do you stop complaining and start proposing? I would do this again. Someone would complain to me about something. Okay, you don't like this. How would you do it? What? Give come
back with a a proposal solution to fix it. Like we know the problem. It's beating it down. We know it. It's known. How do you fix it? What's a solution? >> Wait for the starburst. Don't show. >> Yeah. And and and the solution, >> you don't have one of those antitrust.
And this in this and the solution I suggest is not burdening the um the taxpayer with additional real estate taxes. And I do think this all ties together and specifically Rene's suggestion of you know meet and greets
that is how we build a coalition and get the information out and if we have some clout behind our letters and our positions and our push back if we are if it's known that we're not simply writing a letter and then pivoting. So it it is
a you know all of government or approach to this issue because you know we can't give up because we've tried to do the the override and I can tell you and I I I made a similar comment during
the the process and that I did not want or would not predict the outcome of the ballot vote. I but what I said was the people I speak to outside of the political uh tri board or wherever nobody liked
it. I was careful not to predict cuz I I wasn't predicting but nobody was supportive of it and it played out in the ballot but it's it's a quandry and I I'll admit that and there we need to find we need to do
better. I don't know what that is. Well, I think that that's, you know, what I struggled with during these conversations when we were talking and I was pushing back on you. It's yes, we know that that's a problem, but we need to fund a budget for July 1st. And so the legislature, they're not even
necessarily voting the budget by July 1st, right? We don't have a final budget. So, >> we just got it. >> So, I like >> last week. >> So, yes, I I think that that the fiscal storm points out we are lagging. We are
seriously lagging. We are lagging in terms of recovery from the recession. We which we have not recovered from in terms of state aid. We're lagging in terms of what we get compared to other states in return on tax money. But we
still have services that we need to deliver. So that's where it becomes difficult. you know, from my perspective, >> yes, they need to do better, but until they do, what do we do? So, in terms of thinking
about bringing it back to goals, um, we didn't have the state legislators in last year. We have had them in the past and it's been, you know, we've had the school committee, fin chair, and the select board, and not everyone got
equal. if we could have invite them in for a town hall with the public. >> They probably I can't speak for them, but >> anytime >> public forum something >> anytime that I have had legislators in
>> Yeah. they respectfully request and not this set because I have we haven't had anybody right that they get the questions in advance and >> okay >> so that they can have >> you know >> okay there could still be impromptu follow-up questions I would hope I mean
like the school uh broughten >> oh right right that forum the school forum Margaret >> did I yeah >> there were there were questions follow-up questions for a panel Mhm. >> Sometimes face to face
>> it's pretty than a letter >> typical. >> Well, so this is the other part is you can have lots of meetings with legislators, right? You can have the forums, you can have them at a public meeting and you can have the chair of the committee uh meet with them as well. And I think you're going to get different
different perspectives, different conversations depending on what the avenue what the avenue is and what the venue is. So depending on what we're trying to get, >> I guess I have a hard time I agree with Brian of of putting this as a goal.
>> I hear you. I mean, >> I think it's something that's going to continue to come up as we start the budget process especially and we should look to think what we could do cuz we have all the other years I was on the board, we
had them come in and sit here. >> Yeah, I think it's timing too as issues come up in the public. um having those resolutions and making the public aware like I would support having the discussion and a vote on a letter to the the state auditor too. I think it's important to have those discussions as
well, but I think it's also the timing when when is a good time to do that. Um, and also the affordability, but I think it's timing it along with and maybe and the town manager can help out too with her knowledge and background of the timeline of legislation and what they're
working on. But maybe that can help too of sending it at the right time and sharing it with the public so that they can participate as well. Cuz I think it's not just us. It's we're up here, we're on TV, and now the public knows about it. And then we can even talk about it in the community.
>> And that specific that that resolution does speak specifically to more that we can do a little more direct accountability and calling them out for voting against the will of the people. And it's that kind of approach that
shows them that we are advocating on behalf of our citizens. >> Yeah. So my thought I don't think it needs to be a goal. I think it's just a part of our agenda process. Let's put this on the >> We've done it. We've done these letters and and things >> and I just I just had that as a bullet
point under the community alignment and responsiveness. I want the community to know we have their back. We heard them about a affordability. You know, they're they're upset. I'm upset about the lack of audit. And it's it's sending a message to them and it's
sending a message to our constituents that we are here for them. >> All right. So Rene, do you think you have feedback on that to kind of incorporate that kind of community engagement? >> I thought we just said it didn't
escalate to a goal. Well, I think just the idea of >> just continuing resolutions and >> advocacy >> advocacy for the community, uh, legislative outreach. I think big picture everything, right? Legislators,
>> local politicians, other state >> state delegations. >> Trying to think what time of year do we have them in in the past? >> I think that >> I want to say it was spring. >> Usually we communicate with them a time to >> Yeah. Not now. No. Yeah, it's usually
>> then after January is crazy. >> Um, spring before they get into the budget season and you can talk to them about priorities and requests >> and advocate for before they get into budget, advocate for your >> When I was school committee chair, we
did have a private meeting with legislators. The the select board chair was there, town manager, superintendent. I thought the conversations went really well. It's just a different venue, but it's whatever we want to do. I think there's a lot of different ways to interact with legislators. I'm calling
Margaret Scarsdale on the phone. Sometimes it's like there's different ways to communicate with them and >> let them know what's what's happening in our community. >> Mhm. >> But I think it's we need to be active with the legislators what that avenue is. I think there's a lot of options
>> and they don't need to be mutually exclusive. Yeah. Right. Okay. Um, did we hit on all the select board topics? At least at a high level, is there anything?
>> I think I'm pretty good. I think if you have that information, you want to draft uh based off of what you heard tonight and what you've seen, I'm good with that. We'll look at it again. I can at least take a shot at condensing it and compiling it together into one
document. >> That would work for me >> and try to put some I'm not sure I have all the timelines, but I will try to put some timelines in before I capture them or make them up for review.
>> And again, it's a working document. I'm not that worried about lines as much in the goal setting as much as when we start doing the work. I think when we have the full board um so I think we're meeting next week just
to do some votes that are ready. There's some timing. Town manager is not here next week. The 28th we could meet. We haven't touched on the town manager goals tonight. I don't know how you guys are feeling. if you want to touch on them now or
>> in my opinion. I did draft some potential town manager goals. I really was thinking that more of feedback to Jen on some of my ideas that she could incorporate, but she doesn't have to. Um, my opinion on town manager goals is
I want her to create goals of what she thinks she can get done this year, what she wants to get done this year, and go for it and draft those. And I think I'm likely going to be supportive of that because I think she's professional. She's going to put in goals that she wants to work on. I did want to highlight some areas that I think we
could work on. And it was kind of the connection of going over her review in from the spring, >> kind of going from there and and giving her some ideas, but I think she has a good grasp of what she needs to do. >> Did you read the ones she drafted? She's
>> I haven't really spent a lot of time on that. No. >> Okay. And so I can go over them so you can think on whatever whatever folks want to do. So um I know it's 9:00. So um what I was thinking about this year is I kind of with the turnover in the
finance department I kind of went under in under the weeds or in the weeds from November to May and all I did was finance related. >> You're talking last year. >> I'm talking last year. >> Yeah. And when I kind of came up after
town meeting and I think it's also apparent through the responses that time that was spent while it was necessary and worthwhile to have spent the operation suffered right we have talked about how we have a lot of new
people we have a lot of transition there's a lack of institutional knowledge and my focus I think for this year needs to be about restoring and supporting the core, right? I think about it like from a fitness standpoint, your core needs to
be strong. When your core is strong, we can worry about getting into the appendages. So, the first and some of these are repeats from last year. Some of them are things that have changed a little. Codify and improve processes and procedures. Universally, there are not written
processes. Every time we have to do something, we have to figure it out. Um so direct each department to produce a baseline uh written procedures documents for its core recurring functions first drafts by October with an expectation that a comprehensive draft would be prep
be prepared by the end of the fiscal year. October is really just a check-in. Um these are expected to be living documents. Two munas staff meets training. So we did a big training uh in the month of June all
day. staff really responded well to it. I want to do at least three trainings on Munas. You see feedback of why in those departments, >> but those aren't all day. >> Not all day. In addition to the training on Munas, I want to make sure that we have at least six total trainings. So,
three trainings on MUN, three additional trainings on some subject. The staff is asking for training um exploring outsourcing certain elements of payroll. We run our payroll inhouse. So that doesn't mean we process it only. We run
the checks inhouse. So as he had explored outsourcing to Harper as an ADP prior to my arrival, discarded that. Um I'd like to do that again that exercise
again and give a costbenefit analysis by third quarter of the fiscal year. So by next spring and explore digitizing payroll submissions as soon as possible. We're pretty paperheavy on that. And then this is a goal that we didn't get
to, but it's back here. So, establish a standardized onboarding and orientation process for new employees. Create an updated orientation package and process with the target role date of January 1st. We've picked at some of it. It's better than it was, but it's not great. >> 2027.
>> Yep. It did say December. Julie said I said, "Julie, do you want to know of the month?" She said yes. All right. Municipal property TC Pacios regardless of what is happening wind down the current operations.
So assist the town clerk with relocation of elections and election equipment. Provide support for the Lunberg food pantry to find an alternative location. Um I'm working with them right now. Manage staff to finalize sorting and relocation of paper files. There are
substantial files over there that are not in secure bins that need to get sorted, purged and stored and they are in the decommission portion. TC Pasio assists the select board with next steps, coordinate the tour that we
talked about and then provide information to the board as as you require. If it's going to be retained, quickly pursue a roof replacement. if it's going to be demoed, pursued, demolition, um, town hall and Ritter buildings. This
is a little bit different than the the perspective of the municipal building design. I think no matter what we do with municipal buildings, we're going to be occupying these buildings for several more years. And we made reasonable improvements in
Ritter with a coat of paint and built some walls. I think we need to continue to make reasonable improvements in this building as well um to just maintain the property. Uh 925 Mass the RFP is out. If
it is unsuccessful, there will need to be a goal added um on on this topic either what to do next whether we pursue additional environmental remediation, whether we decide to convert it to a park, whatever we do. Um, goal three,
budgeting and finance. Work with department heads to present early views of budgets to finance committee in December. Work with department heads to develop or update 5 to 10 year staffing plans projections to include cost projections. I heard a lot of that question come up
this year while you're adding staff now. What are you going to need next year? What are you going to need the year after? Let's try to get that down somewhere. provide support for the director of planning and economic development to propose zoning changes to encourage reasonable economic development. Um
whether that means assisting him with forums, assisting him with language, whatever that means, I want to be able to provide that support to Mr. Wallace. Continue to provide opportunities for public engagement um on the budget by continuing to hold pre-teen forum that began with the FY26 bud. Oh, I shouldn't
say FY27 budget. I'm off by a year. I'm in FY27 but trying to project FY28. Develop FY28 budget web page in early calendar FY27 and keep updated as real time as possible. Work with the finance committee, select
board staff and other stakeholders to complete the review of the financial policies that have been tabled. I talked about the four OPED stabilization of council reserve free cash revenue projections. To achieve this, I'd like to bring in subject matter experts and advisers to provide context and external perspective to both the finance
committee and select board. I propose that we focus on these four areas first with a goal for adoption of whatever comes out as a policy by the select board by December. Um that way if these policies have an effect on the budgeting
process, they will be completed in time that that effect can take place and based on the progress made on these four areas determine whether June is realistic for adoption of the remainder of the policies. And then objective six is something that came out of the
department head's feedback and that's that the select board establish um service level expectations uh for budgeting. So department heads have expressed a desire for clearer service level expectations from the board so they may understand what level of
service to budget towards. Um so working with the board um to determine what you need to help guide those discussions. I think what they don't want to do is prepare a whole budget and come and say uh we don't really want we didn't want
you to get rid of X in your budget reductions. We really prefer you retaining that service. go find somewhere else to cut or we don't like the growth in that area. So, understanding what the expectations are around service, I think the pavement management
plan was a perfect example of that that has been tackled already. Right. I think this is aligned with the department head feedback for sure. >> That's what I >> That's a common >> I really tried to pull from there.
>> Could we add a report on the Brooks House? >> Have you do a report on the Brooks House? >> I'm sorry. Town meeting voted that the select board. >> We can delegate >> and I can delegate that to Mr. Wallace. So >> Chris Ruth, I think part of that
process. Yeah. >> Um but yeah, we can >> if it they should be symbiotic, right? Anything that has overlap, they should be speaking to each other and then these goals
get further disseminated and detailed as they roll down. Mhm. >> So, some feedback I I like them. Uh I wonder if there's any room for in goal one the codifying and improving
processes and procedures to include something along uh improving organizational culture, working with organizational culture. Um I think that the culture problem is the process problem. staff is getting
along well and they're working together well. They're incredibly stressed as they're doing it. They're sick of turning over rocks and finding snakes, but they're helping each other through it. I don't see that we have a culture problem. I think that we have things
that are getting in the way of people being successful in their role that are taking up too much time. >> And I think if we fix >> it's connected, >> then it will affect the culture. I think there's frustration. >> Oh yeah, there's definitely frustration. The amount of time it takes for things to happen, that's a process problem.
That's a the amount of turnaround it takes for decisions to get made or >> I have seen and heard staff coming in to help other staff members. you know, >> from from my perspective, what I've seen so far.
>> I don't think we have I don't I don't think that I could answer this the same way because I didn't have the knowledge, right? And there's some different folks around. I think that this culture is improving substantially. I think that there was a lot of work
that this board and actually Carter did >> um to start that process and you see that people are responding that they appreciate those changes, right? But yeah, it's great if you have a great vacation benefit, but if you can't get out of your own way when you come to
work because you can't figure out how to use Munice, we got to get you figuring out how to use Munice. >> And the response to the training was very positive. you said very positive people did not there were some folks who didn't want to come and they why do I
need to go I just go you might learn something and then I would look over and I could nodding and note takingaking I said I see what's happening here so it was a very we trained on a number of topics it was good but it was really the first robust one and it got people from
all departments together in a room that is rare I like them. I think there's a lot of commonalities too with the what the selector wants to do, too. So, it's good. >> Any comments? >> Yeah, he wants me to do a report on the
Brooks House. >> Yeah, >> there's a lot there. What's one more thing? >> I think that was going to be my other part was like, do you really have to do all the buildings? It's like I was first thinking like okay just some of the buildings or get three out of the four buildings kind of thing. But it's like we're just going to try for the
buildings and see what happens. And it's all about just making progress on the goals. We are not going to it'd be great if all the buildings are taken care of but we'll see. We'll see what we can get through >> make progress. >> I think TCP is the one that definitely comes to the top of a decision.
>> Yes. It's more immediate. >> Yes. Yeah. That >> Yeah. I think so. What Don was explaining is the roof has been stretched so much that any weight on it invite Don into >> is going to cause tearing and pulling.
>> He's worried about cuz it's all wood under what the condition of that is. >> And I can see tiles chipping in the non-commissioned. >> I think you're going to find people on both sides of >> saving a building and not saving a
building. This is it's what it is. So, we're just going to have to take in that information and make a decision, an informed decision. That's all. >> Okay. Um, anything else related to the goals tonight? You guys have to I'm going to pass this
around for you to sign. This is the vote on the um the gift for the town beach sign. >> I don't have anything else. >> Nothing else. >> Okay. So what I can do we can plan if I uh I can draft a summary of the
goals. Can I share them? >> Yeah. Now it's been Yes. Okay. Yes. >> So I will try to do that before the 28th >> and they can share back with you. I don't think that that was quite the conversation. That's >> so now we can go back and forth.
>> Not about changing things, but just that's what if if you said Brian suggested a goal about only buying blue pens and he's like actually Renee, it was black. It was black pens that I suggested. That's not >> if I something out they can edit it, >> right? But you can't come up with a new topic, >> a new goal,
>> right? >> Okay. So, I'll try >> I honestly think if you draft it, I think there'll be some minor recommendations possibly next meeting and we can finish this up. That's my thought. >> Yeah. >> I'm trying to avoid a meeting on the 28th if we can. >> But on the 21st.
>> What about the 21st? Yeah. >> Are we going to I don't know if I could turn it around that fast in a week. I'm I'm I'm >> You're retired. >> You are now. >> I'm going to be away for 3 days for a wedding. I'm not taking my laptop.
>> We can meet off cycle, too, if it's just this, too. It's a workshop, so we can do a different day, too. It's kind of even maybe it's when you feel like you're done. and I go, "Okay, let's set up a meeting." >> I do think we should bring them up for review when we have after the election. Yes, we have the full board
>> so we can come to agreed upon draft and then have the full board review have another discussion. >> Are we okay with town manager goals as is? Could we vote on them tonight? >> I'm okay with Yeah.
>> Okay. >> With Brooks. >> Hm. No, >> no, we'll we'll give you that. >> Thanks. >> I'll make a motion to approve the town managed FY27 goals as presented. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh all those in favor? I
>> I >> I >> Okay. Motion passes unanimously. That is good. You have your goals done before vacation. >> Um okay. Uh we don't have anything else on the agenda. Um we will be meeting next week. I think it'll be short.
There's like four votes. Oh, there may be a presentation um from an Eagle Scout project. He's proposing to build a what's it called? A loafing shed. >> A loafing shed. It's >> on the DPW. >> Basically a three-sided shed with a roof that would be for salt storage for the
community to pick up salt. >> We have to give permission to do it on town property. So waiting that confirmation, but other than that, I think there's just some quick votes and so so we will be in person if he does present cuz I think that would be important.
>> All right. If there is nothing else, >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn at 9:10 p.m. >> I will second that. >> Okay. Uh all those in favor? I I we are adjourned. Have a good evening. Thank
you.